Tom Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Ford
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Ford in 2009
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Thomas Carlyle Ford
August 27, 1961 Austin, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Parsons School of Design |
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Richard Buckley
(m. 2014; died 2021) |
| Children | 1 |
Thomas Carlyle Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer and filmmaker. He started his own brand in 2005. Before that, he was the main designer for famous fashion houses like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford also wrote and directed two movies, A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016). From 2019 to 2022, he led the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Carlyle Ford was born on August 27, 1961, in Austin, Texas. His parents were realtors. He spent his early years in Houston, Texas, and San Marcos. Even as a young child, he enjoyed moving furniture and giving advice on his mother's style.
When he was 11, his family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He went to high school there. At 16, he briefly attended Bard College at Simon's Rock before moving to New York City. In New York, he studied art history at New York University. He also started going to Studio 54, a famous club that later inspired his designs.
Ford then studied interior design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York. During his studies, he spent a year and a half in Paris. There, he interned at the fashion house Chloé, which sparked his interest in fashion. He finished his degree in architecture, but his passion for fashion had grown strong.
Fashion Career
Starting in Fashion
After college, Tom Ford wanted to work in fashion, even though his degree was in architecture. He called American designer Cathy Hardwick every day until she agreed to interview him. She was impressed by his determination and hired him as a design assistant. He worked for Hardwick for two years.
In 1988, Ford joined Perry Ellis. He worked there for two years but felt that American fashion was too limiting. He believed he needed to go to Europe to become a great designer.
Leading Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent
In 1990, Ford moved to Milan, Italy, to work for the fashion house Gucci. At the time, Gucci was not doing well. The company's creative director, Dawn Mello, hired Ford as the chief designer for women's clothing. It was a big risk for an American designer to join a struggling Italian company.
Ford's role at Gucci quickly grew. Within six months, he was designing men's clothing and then shoes. By 1992, he was in charge of many areas, including clothing, fragrances, and advertising. He worked very long hours, sometimes 18 hours a day.
In 1994, Ford became the Creative Director of Gucci. He brought new, exciting styles to the brand. He also hired a new stylist and photographer to create fresh ad campaigns. Between 1995 and 1996, Gucci's sales increased by 90%. By 1999, Gucci, which had been struggling, was worth over $4 billion.
When Gucci bought Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) in 1999, Ford became the Creative Director for YSL too. He helped bring this classic fashion house back into the spotlight. His advertising campaigns for YSL perfumes were bold and sometimes caused discussion.
In April 2004, Tom Ford left the Gucci group. He and the CEO, Domenico de Sole, could not agree on how to control the company. Ford later said this experience was "devastating" because he had put so much into it for 15 years. When he left, Gucci Group was valued at $10 billion.
The Tom Ford Brand
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After leaving Gucci, Ford started his own brand in 2006, named after himself. His former colleague, Domenico de Sole, became the chairman. Ford designed menswear, beauty products, eyewear, and accessories. He described his customers as international, cultured, and well-traveled.
Many famous people have worn Tom Ford's designs. Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, wore one of his gowns to Buckingham Palace. He has also dressed stars like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Daniel Craig, and Johnny Depp. Ford designed Daniel Craig's suits for his last four James Bond films.
In 2013, the singer Justin Timberlake mentioned Tom Ford in his song "Suit & Tie". Ford designed the suits and accessories for the song's music video. Later, Jay-Z released a song simply titled "Tom Ford". Ford was very pleased, saying it showed he had made a big impact on popular culture. After the song came out, many more people searched for Tom Ford online.
In November 2022, the Tom Ford brand was bought by The Estée Lauder Companies for $2.8 billion. Ford earned a large amount from this deal. In April 2023, Ford stepped down as the brand's creative director.
Advertising Style
Tom Ford's advertising campaigns have sometimes been seen as very bold. He has been criticized for using images that some found too revealing. Ford has said he aims to be "equal opportunity" in his ads, meaning he is willing to show both men and women in striking ways. He believes that fashion should be free and not held back by too many rules.
Film Career
A Single Man
In 2005, Tom Ford started his film company, Fade to Black. In 2009, he directed his first movie, A Single Man. The film is based on a novel and stars Colin Firth as a college professor. Julianne Moore and Nicholas Hoult also appear in the movie. Ford helped write the script and was one of the producers.
A Single Man was shown for the first time at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. It was nominated for the top award, the Golden Lion. Colin Firth won an award for Best Actor for his role in the film. The movie also won other awards, including AFI Film of the Year.
Nocturnal Animals
In 2015, Ford directed his second film, Nocturnal Animals. This movie was released in 2016 and is based on the novel Tony and Susan. Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams played the main characters.
Critics praised the film, and it won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Many reviewers noted Tom Ford's unique visual style and storytelling in the movie.
Personal Life
Tom Ford is openly gay. He married Richard Buckley, a journalist, in 2014. They had been together since 1986. The couple had a son in September 2012 through a surrogate mother. The family lived in Italy and London for many years. They also had homes in New York, Los Angeles, and Santa Fe.
Ford and Buckley owned smooth fox terriers, which even appeared in Ford's film A Single Man. Richard Buckley passed away on September 19, 2021, after a long illness.
Ford owns a large ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, designed by a famous Japanese architect. The property includes a fictional town used for filming Western movies. Ford has also shared that he became a vegan after watching a documentary. He has also been open about using cosmetic treatments.
In 2024, Ford bought a very expensive mansion in London. His real estate properties are valued at over $300 million.
Views on Politics
Tom Ford is a Democrat. He did not support the United States' invasion of Iraq in 2003. He has hosted fundraisers for politicians like Barack Obama. He voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US general election.
Ford supports same-sex marriage in the United States. He believes that politicians should wear clothes that are affordable for most Americans and made in America. He says his own clothes are very expensive and made in Italy, so he does not dress politicians.
He also believes that too much "political correctness" can make it harder for fashion designers to be creative. He feels that designers used to be able to celebrate other cultures more freely.
Awards and Recognition
Tom Ford has received many awards for his work in fashion and film. These include honors from important design groups and magazines.
- 1995: International Award – Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
- 1999: Style Icon Award – Elle Style Awards UK
- 2000: Best International Designer – VH1/Vogue Awards
- 2001: Womenswear Designer of the Year – CFDA
- 2003: Fashion Design Achievement Award – Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum's National Design Awards
- 2004: Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award
- 2007: GLAAD Media Awards – Vito Russo Award
- 2008: Menswear Designer of the Year – CFDA
- 2009: Venice Film Festival – Queer Lion for A Single Man
- 2010: GLAAD Media Awards – Outstanding Film Wide Release for A Single Man
- 2014: Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award – CFDA
- 2015: Menswear Designer of the Year – CFDA
- 2016: Venice Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize for Nocturnal Animals
- 2016: Satellite Auteur Award
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer |
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| 2009 | A Single Man | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2016 | Nocturnal Animals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Acting Role
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Zoolander | Tom Ford |
See also
In Spanish: Tom Ford para niños
